Linux on Mobile: My Experience with the Pinephone Pro
January 29th, 2024
Digital Rights, English, Open Source
TL;DR: I’ve been using the Pinephone Pro as my main phone for a while now, and while it has its glitches, I love the freedom it gives me to work with FOSS software. However, the audio quality and constant bugs can be frustrating. Overall, I’m hopeful for the future of Linux on mobile.
As someone who has been dabbling in the open-source Linux world for a long time, I’ve always been drawn to software that gives me control over my devices and keeps my data private. When I first got a smartphone in 2012, I opted for a Jolla phone running SailfishOS. Since then, I’ve tried out various Linux phones, including the Pinephone Pro, which I’ve been using as a secondary device for tinkering purposes.
However, when my primary phone broke, I was forced to rely on the Pinephone Pro as my daily driver. While it has been a struggle at times, it has also been rewarding. I’ve used it for long trips, as a navigation device, for internet tasks, chatting, watching videos, recording audio, and more. It has helped me break free from the smartphone doom spiral and waste less time on addictive platforms.
Now, let’s get technical. The Pinephone Pro is not a powerhouse, but it’s not painfully slow either. It has a hexa-core SoC, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a 13MP main camera. It runs on postmarketOS, which provides full disk encryption for data security. However, there are some caveats.
Firstly, if I power on the device without charging it during boot, it crashes after a few minutes. I have no idea why, but connecting it to a charger during boot solves the issue. Secondly, the camera support is still a work in progress, and the audio quality for calls is terrible. The Pinephone Pro picks up audio as if you’re talking underwater, and there’s often an echo on the receiving end. While there have been improvements in these areas, there’s still work to be done.
Despite these glitches, the Pinephone Pro performs well as a smart device. It runs a variety of apps for tasks like navigation, calendar functions, weather updates, podcasts, and more. One of the best features is the full-fledged mobile configuration of the Firefox browser, which allows for ad-free browsing without the restrictions of Android plugins.
GPS works well with geoclue, and I’ve used it for navigation on my motorcycle trips. I’ve also set up synced directories with my laptop via syncthing, allowing me to access pictures and documents on the go. Additionally, the Pinephone Pro has an alarm clock, audio recording capabilities, and support for reading news via RSS feeds and watching YouTube videos.
However, there is a learning curve to using Linux on mobile. It requires a deeper understanding of how your device works and what commercial enterprises are doing with your data. But for those who value privacy and control, it can be a rewarding experience.
The biggest drawback of the Pinephone Pro is its battery life. Heavy usage drains the battery quickly, lasting only 1-2 hours. However, the suspend mode has minimal battery drain, and a 10000mAh power bank can provide up to 12 hours of heavy use.
Overall, relying on the Pinephone Pro as a daily driver can be nerve-wracking due to its glitches. However, it offers a unique and empowering experience for those who value freedom and control over their devices. As Linux on mobile continues to mature, I’m hopeful for the future of open-source software on smartphones.
So, to all the nerds and enthusiasts who have contributed to the development of Linux on mobile, thank you for your awesome work!
© 2024 Zerwuerfnis
注意
- この記事はAI(gpt-3.5-turbo)によって自動生成されたものです。
- この記事はHackerNewsに掲載された下記の記事を元に作成されています。
Daily Driving the PinePhone Pro - 自動生成された記事の内容に問題があると思われる場合にはコメント欄にてご連絡ください。